Chapter 90

“Mm, let’s not break up,” Xu Sui smiled at him, her voice choked with emotion.

Zhou Jingze lightly pinched her nose and said, “Anyway, leave this to me.”

After Zhou Jingze hung up the phone, it didn’t ring again.

The sky was just getting light, and the morning market hadn’t started yet, with only a few breakfast shops at the intersection open.

Zhou Jingze took Xu Sui out for breakfast. He ordered two bowls of wonton soup and casually grabbed a bag of milk and placed it in front of Xu Sui.

After the food arrived, Zhou Jingze didn’t eat much, kept looking at his phone, his thumb scrolling the screen, and even went out to make a call.

Xu Sui absentmindedly stirred the wontons in her bowl with a spoon. She only ate two and couldn’t eat anymore.

After Zhou Jingze finished his call and came back, he accompanied Xu Sui back to the hospital and even packed breakfast for Xu’s mother.

At the hospital entrance, Zhou Jingze handed the plain congee to her, saying:

“I just hired a nurse for Auntie to take care of her. Take care of yourself, and if anything happens, call me.”

Zhou Jingze’s phone rang in his hand. He glanced at it and said, “I have to go, baby.”

Xu Sui looked at him without saying anything. Zhou Jingze seemed to see through what she was thinking and slowly said with a voice as clear and clean as in his youth:

“This profession is indeed tough and a bit dangerous, but the world is like this. Someone has to do it.”

“Do you know what I think about when I’m preparing for a risky rescue on a plane?”

“What?” Xu Sui asked puzzled.

Zhou Jingze lowered his head and gently brushed her cheek with his thumb:

“Because you’re there, the sky has meaning.”

Because he thought of someone waiting for him, behind every effort in rescuing was the hope of coming back safely to see her.

Xu Sui’s heart tightened. She looked at Zhou Jingze, unable to say the three words “don’t go”.

“Alright, come back safely,” Xu Sui finally said.

Glancing at her schedule on her phone, Xu Sui was originally supposed to return tomorrow, but because of her mother’s illness, she took two days off from work and rescheduled her high-speed train ticket.

Finally, she carried breakfast into the ward.

Not long after, Xu’s mother woke up, lying pale in bed.

Xu Sui lowered her eyelashes and said, “Mom, I shouldn’t have said such serious things to you.”

“Silly child, how can I blame you? It’s just my old problem,” Xu’s mother managed a smile.

Mother and daughter were like this, with a bond thicker than blood that could never be severed.

Xu Sui had been taking care of her mother in the hospital for the past few days, busy and exhausted, thankfully assisted by the nurse Zhou Jingze hired.

Worried about delaying Xu Sui’s work, her mother kept urging her to go back.

Sitting by the bedside, Xu Sui peeled an apple for her mother, smiling and saying, “I’ve already taken time off. I’ve barely been home for two days; you have to let me finish my leave.”

The nurse, changing her mother’s medicine, overheard their conversation and smiled, saying, “You’re truly fortunate. You have a son-in-law who donated blood for you and even hired a nurse to take care of you, and a daughter who’s tirelessly helping you.”

“Did he come earlier?” Xu’s mother asked lightly.

Xu Sui nodded, wanting to speak well of Zhou Jingze in front of her mother: “Yes, he took care of you when you were unconscious.”

“Please thank him for me,” Xu’s mother said, then turned to the nurse adjusting her IV speed and said, “He’s not my son-in-law, he’s my daughter’s friend.”

Xu Sui, peeling the apple, paused, and a long strip of green apple peel suddenly snapped off with a “pop,” falling to the ground. She lowered her eyelashes, picked it up, and threw it into the trash, saying nothing.

Her mother still hadn’t relented on this matter.

The night before returning to Beijing, Xu Sui was in the hospital room taking care of her mother. Thankfully, her mother’s condition was gradually improving, and her spirits were mostly restored.

At nine o’clock that evening, as Xu Sui was pouring hot water for her mother, steam rising from the paper cup, her phone in her pocket buzzed. She set down the kettle, pulled out her phone, and paused when she saw the caller ID.

It was Zhou Jingze calling.

As Xu Sui gripped her phone and stepped out of the ward door to answer, her mother’s voice suddenly came from behind, filled with disappointment:

“Ai, are you trying to upset your mother?

Xu Sui eventually did not answer this call. After returning to Beijing North, Xu Sui went back to work as usual, kept in touch with Zhou Jingze every day, occasionally went out for meals and shopping with friends after work. She appeared as if nothing had happened, but there was always a heavy weight on her heart. Xu Sui’s mother’s interference somewhat shook her feelings for this relationship. Since Zhou Jingze joined the rescue team, every time she saw news about them in the media, Xu Sui’s heart would start to worry. After finding a partner, one indeed becomes more selfish, only hoping for their safety.

On Friday after work, with nothing to do, Xu Sui aimlessly walked the streets. She randomly boarded a bus, sat at the back by the window, and stared blankly at the scenery receding outside the window. After an hour, Xu Sui randomly chose to get off at a stop and walked forward for more than ten minutes, inadvertently finding herself back at her alma mater, Beijing North Medical University. Across the street was the famous snack street of the school, conveniently separating Beijing North University of Aeronautics and Astronautics from Beijing North Medical University. Xu Sui was feeling hungry, so she walked across to the other side.

As she entered the bustling street, young female students held hands, their faces filled with collagen, picking fruits at the fruit stall, exuding youthful vigor with every smile. Nearby, a sweaty male student in a basketball uniform had his girlfriend by his side, handing him water to drink. Familiar yet unfamiliar.

Xu Sui saw the Yunji Noodle House not far away and walked in. The business of this noodle house was still thriving, and the boss had a joyful smile, busy as ever. Xu Sui found a corner to sit down, pulled out a tissue, and wiped the table. The boss approached and asked what she wanted.

“A bowl of fresh shrimp noodles,” Xu Sui said after glancing at the menu, then added, “Oh, and please don’t—”

“Oh, it’s you,” the boss interrupted, holding a pen and a small notebook for taking orders. “You’re from the medical school, right? During your entrance exam period, you used to eat here often.”

“Yes, that’s me,” Xu Sui replied with a smile. The boss took her menu and cheerfully said, “Same as usual, extra scallions and cilantro, no vinegar, right?”

“Yes, you remembered,” Xu Sui smiled.

When the noodles arrived, Xu Sui picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. The noodles were chewy, the broth still as flavorful as ever. Xu Sui ate slowly, and by the end, she felt a thin layer of sweat all over her body, very comfortable. Since graduating, she hadn’t had such delicious noodles.

After finishing, Xu Sui went to the cashier to pay. The boss was busy tallying inventory. Xu Sui tapped lightly on the table with her phone and said, “Boss, I’d like to pay.”

The boss looked up, stopped his work, and greeted her, “You came alone today, where’s your boyfriend? That handsome tall guy with a crew cut.”

Xu Sui was taken aback. She and Zhou Jingze hadn’t come to the noodle house many times, so she didn’t expect the boss to remember.

She pushed aside some stray hair and replied, “He… oh, he’s at work and couldn’t make it.”

“How much?” Xu Sui took out her phone to scan the QR code on the counter to pay.

The boss waved his hand, wiping a glass with a white cloth, and grinned, “No need, your boyfriend left quite a bit of money here back then.”

Xu Sui looked at her phone in disbelief, pausing, “What money?”

“Oh, didn’t you know? When you were studying for your exams late into the night, he was worried you wouldn’t have food, so he gave me money to keep the shop open longer and take care of you.”

a long time ago.

Xu Sui was like this; once she immersed herself in something, she became oblivious to everything else. It was the same when she liked someone or when she was studying.

She still remembered that during her preparation for the exam, she spent every day in the study room until everyone else had left the classroom, and she was still there studying.

As a result, when she came out, the cafeteria had already closed. She ran outside the school, and the few shops at the entrance were either closing or had sold out of ingredients for the day.

Only Yunji Noodle House was still lit no matter how late it was.

Sometimes, when Xu Sui sat there eating noodles and encountered heavy rain, the owner would kindly hand her an umbrella.

The winters in Beijing were cold. Every time Xu Sui rushed out, holding her books, her fingers would freeze red. When the proprietress saw this, she would give her a hand warmer or pour her a cup of hot water.

During those difficult days of preparing for the exam, Xu Sui felt resolute yet lonely. When she found it hard to endure, seeing the light on at the noodle house made her feel like it was accompanying her.

But what Xu Sui didn’t expect was that the person who had been with her through thick and thin was Zhou Jingze.

When Xu Sui remembered something, she would leave, and at the end, she wouldn’t forget to thank the owner.

The owner joked, “Don’t be so polite. Remember to invite me to your wedding. After all, I’ve been a witness to your relationship all this time.”

Xu Sui was taken aback for a moment, then nodded heavily and smiled, “I will.”

We will get married.

Xu Sui rushed out of the shop and quickly hailed a cab back home. She hurriedly pressed the elevator button on the first floor to the eighth floor.

She entered her home and began searching for something in her study. In a box of old items, Xu Sui found a blue cap with a bear logo.

Sitting on the thick carpet, Xu Sui patted off the dust with her hand. She reached in and took out the tag inside, which had a letter ‘Z’ on it.

For some reason, Xu Sui suddenly felt like crying.

Xu Sui still remembered the evening of the undergraduate graduation dinner.

With her academic journey completed, Xu Sui breathed a sigh of relief but also felt immersed in the sentimental atmosphere of everyone soon dispersing after graduation.

On the evening of the dinner, Xu Sui deliberately put on makeup and wore a nice dress to attend the event.

Dozens of classmates sat around a warm brown rectangular table, eating barbecue and drinking, talking about life.

Next to Xu Sui, a girl suddenly showed two red booklets amid everyone’s laughter and chatter.

Resting against the shoulder of the guy beside her, the girl proudly waved her marriage certificate to everyone:

“Dear classmates, we’ve finished our ten-year marathon of love. We got married today.”

The atmosphere suddenly heated up, with applause and cheers erupting continuously.

“Wow, you’ve been quietly making big moves!”

“Come on, let’s drink! Tonight, you two must not leave until you’re drunk.”

The girl and the guy smiled at each other, their eyes filled with melting love, as they graciously accepted the glasses handed to them.

Resting her head on her hand, Xu Sui silently admired, “That’s wonderful,” while holding tongs and grilling pork belly on the stove, emitting sizzling sounds.

The girl leaned over and said, “Sui Sui, what are you daydreaming about? Come, let’s toast.”

Xu Sui snapped back to reality, picked up the glass on the table, and downed it, saying, “Congratulations to you both, a hundred years of happiness.”

“Hahaha, thank you. When are you planning to get married?” a classmate asked.

Xu Sui smirked, putting down her glass, “I’m not in a rush. I don’t even have a partner yet.”

“I’ll introduce someone to you in a couple of days!”

“Okay,” Xu Sui smiled and casually replied.

As classmates were about to part ways, scattering to the ends of the earth, pairs were forming or breaking up.

After the gathering, there was always a lingering sense of melancholy in the air.

Regardless, Xu Sui realized that she seemed to have been alone all along on this journey.

Halfway through, Xu Sui went out to the restroom and accidentally bumped into a girl at the corner of the hallway.

A strong perfume wafted over, and Xu Sui, bowing her head, quickly apologized, “Sorry.”

“It’s you, Xu Sui.”

A familiar voice rang out, and Xu Sui raised her head, surprised to see Bai Yuyue.

Yet after the surprise, it didn’t seem strange anymore, considering they were in the same department and major, even in adjacent classes. It wasn’t surprising they had chosen this place for their graduation dinner.

“Yeah, long time no see,” Xu Sui greeted her.

Bai Yuyue was wearing a red dress, showing off a slim ankle. She looked down at Xu Sui from above, raised her eyebrows slightly, and said in a domineering tone:

“I was right back then, you couldn’t resist him.”

Both knew implicitly who “him” referred to. Xu Sui’s expression didn’t change much, and she even self-deprecatingly pulled the corner of her lips:

“Indeed.”

Bai Yuyue lowered her head and flicked the glitter on her nails, seemingly casual but with a deliberate impact:

“Have you been in touch with him recently? I heard he’s got a new girlfriend.”

Xu Sui slipped her hands into her pockets, her fingernails digging into her palms, and she tightened them as if in self-inflicted pain. She forced a smile and said reluctantly, “It’s normal to start a new relationship after a breakup; we should all look forward.” The latter part of her sentence, Xu Sui didn’t know who she was saying it to. “I have something to attend to, so I’ll leave first.” She averted her gaze from the others and walked away.

Bai Yuyue watched Xu Sui’s hurried departure and thought to herself that the lie had been quite worth it. Back in the private room, Xu Sui grilled meat while listening to her classmates’ chatter. She held tongs against thin slices of meat, causing oil to spill out. Xu Sui sprinkled cumin and seasoning powder over the meat, flipping it in the pan a few times until a fragrant aroma filled the air.

Taking a piece of lettuce, Xu Sui wrapped the meat mechanically and put it in her mouth, chewing mechanically. Perhaps due to the choking oil smoke, her tear glands were stimulated, and her eyes watered. Later, Xu Sui drank a lot of alcohol, becoming dizzy and disoriented. Unfortunately, after drinking, her tooth began to ache.

In fact, Xu Sui had been suffering from toothaches for quite some time, but she had been too busy since graduation to seek treatment. Toothache is not an illness, but it can be excruciating. Half drunk, Xu Sui was in great discomfort; her toothache was exacerbating her nerves, making her unable to move her face. She put down her glass and went to the balcony to catch some air.

It was hot in the summer; the sky was bright, but there wasn’t a single star in sight. Xu Sui, unconscious from drinking, suddenly wanted to confide in someone. In a daze, she took out her phone and dialed Hu Qianxi. The call was quickly answered, but strangely, there was silence on the other end, only the sound of strong winds, as if in an open field.

Xu Sui didn’t notice anything unusual; she covered her painfully swollen face and sobbed into the receiver. She just cried. The person on the other end didn’t ask anything. As Xu Sui continued crying, her sobs grew louder, tears wetting her eyelashes. “Xixi, I miss him so much.”

“You…might think I’m useless, but I really miss him.” Not long after, there was a pause on the phone, as if asking where she was.

“At a gathering… *sobs* I feel so miserable, drunk and with a toothache… I want to go home now.” Xu Sui wiped away her tears.

The person on the other end told her to stay put and not run around. Xu Sui obediently agreed. As she waited, she leaned her cheek against the railing; a cooling sensation relieved some of her pain, and she closed her eyes comfortably.

Xu Sui couldn’t quite remember what happened next, but she vaguely recalled someone carrying her back home. The next morning, she found a cup of hangover tea and painkillers on her table, along with a blue bear-brimmed cap. Xu Sui had always thought that Hu Qianxi had arranged for someone else to send her home that night.

Now, it seemed it was Zhou Jingze who had been there that evening. Only now did Xu Sui realize that, whether she needed him or not, he had always been there. Xu Sui squatted in front of the box, holding the bear cap, feeling the urge to call Zhou Jingze.

She took out her phone and dialed his number; after a few rings, he answered quickly. It seemed like Zhou Jingze had just gotten off a plane; his voice, as always, was pleasant and grainy. “Yiyi, what’s up?”

“It’s nothing…” Xu Sui’s heart trembled slightly. She held the blue bear-brimmed cap and spoke in a soft, tired voice, “I just miss you.” So much, I really miss you.